Internet-based service system and method for remotely restoring damaged and files

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is internet-based service system and method for remotely restoring damaged data and files through the internet in case that the data and files stored in the hard discs and floppy discs of client personal computers (PC) are partly or entirely damaged. If a user connects to a restoration server through the intemet network, a restoration plug-in module of client PCs and a restoration plug-in module of the restoration server will be compared after judging whether the user is registered. The damaged data and files will be restored by using the restoration plug-in module stored at client PC, a restoration result will be recorded and transfer to the restoration server for analyzing the result and the analyzed result will be transferred to client PC and simultaneously recorded on database.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Technical Field

[0002] The present invention relates to internet-based service systemand method for remotely restoring data and files, and more particularlyto internet-based service system and method for remotely restoring partor all of damaged data and files stored in a hard disc or a floppy discof a client personal computer(PC) due to various causes.

[0003] 2. Reference to Related Patent Applications

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,419 Communication system U.S. Pat. No.5,771,354 Internet online backup system provides remote storage forcustomers using IDs and passwords which were interactively establishedwhen signing up for backup services U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,722 In aninteractive network board, a method and apparatus for remotelydownloading and executing files in a memory.

[0005] 3. Description of Related Arts

[0006] Recently, personal computers(PCs; computers available forindividuals are referred to) are widely used for various affairs incorporations and institutions, so it may have a vital influence on theaffairs of those who use the personal computers that particular data andfiles stored in the personal computers get damaged or lost.

[0007] In the past, the damage to or the loss of data and files storedin a storage medium such as hard discs, floppy discs, or the like, ofthe PCs have mainly occurred due to wrong manipulations of users orphysical defects of the storage medium which stores the data and files.

[0008] However, in recent, the cases that the data and files get damageddue to the computer virus have been increased, and the data and filesget damaged in various types.

[0009] Even though important data and files get damaged, the damageddata and files can be easily restored in case that backups or copies ofthe data and files exist. However, otherwise, it is very difficult torestore the damaged data and files to the original state. In the worstcase, the restoration of the damaged data and files becomes impossible.

[0010] As stated above, in case that the data and files stored in thehard discs or the floppy discs of the PCs get damaged, the users bringto specialized data-restoring centers the hard discs and floppy discsthey want to restore, or the users purchase data-restoring programs,install them into the personal computers to which hard discs or floppydiscs to be restored are connected, and execute the restoration of them.

[0011] However, in case that users leave damaged data and files inspecialized data-restoring centers for-restoration, there exists aproblem in that corporations and institutions avoid the use of thecenters since high costs are required for the restoration of the dataand the files at the same time as important information in the discsgets leaked out.

[0012] Further, in case that users wish to restore damaged data andfiles by using a restoration program, there exists a problem in that therestoration program should be installed in computer systems prior to thedamages to the data and files.

[0013] Furthermore, there still exists a problem in that the updates ofthe restoration programs are not rapidly made enough to effectively copewith the damages to the data and files caused by brand-new computerviruses and the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0014] In order to solve the above problems, it is an object of thepresent invention to provide internet-based service system and methodfor remotely restoring damaged data and files, in case that part or allof data and files stored in hard discs and floppy discs of clientpersonal computers is damaged due to various causes, by providing remoterestoration services from a restoration server to the hard discs andfloppy discs connected to the personal computers accessible to theinternet.

[0015] In order to achieve the above object, a system according to thepresent invention comprises an internet network; plural client personalcomputers(PCs) for transferring log-in data through the intemet network,transferring through the internet network information on a restorationplug-in module stored at present in response to a restoration plug-inmodule check signal transferred in correspondence with the log-in data,installing a restoration plug-in module inputted through the internetnetwork in correspondence to the restoration plug-in module information,using the installed restoration plug-in module to restore damaged dataand files in a storage medium, transferring a result of the restorationthrough the internet network, and outputting on screens analysis resultdata transferred through the intemet network; and a restoration serverconnected to the respective client PCs through the internet network, andfor judging whether a user is registered by using the log-in datainputted from the client PCs, transferring the restoration plug-inmodule check signal to the client PCs through the internet network inorder to check the restoration plug-in module stored in the client PCsin case that the user is registered, controlling the restoration plug-inmodule of the client PCs through the restoration plug-in moduleinformation transferred from the client PCs through the internet,analyzing a result of the restoration transferred from the client PCs,and transferring the analysis result to the client Pcs.

[0016] In order to achieve the above object, a method according to thepresent invention comprises steps of 4. An internet-based service methodfor remotely restoring damaged data and files, comprising steps of (1)connecting to a restoration server through a communication program of aclient personal computer(PC); (2) executing a user authenticationroutine after the connection to the restoration server; (3) executing aroutine for comparing a restoration plug-in module of the client PC witha restoration plug-in module of the restoration server; (4) restoringdamaged data and files by using the restoration plug-in module equippedin the client PC through the comparison routine step and storing theresult; (5) transferring the restoration result to the restorationserver and requesting a result analysis; and (6) transferring theanalyzed result to the client PC and computerizing the result in adatabase.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] The above object and other advantages of the present inventionwill become more apparent by describing in detail a preferred embodimentthereof with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for conceptually explaining a structureof an internet-based service system for remotely restoring damaged dataand files according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0019]FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a structure ofa client personal computer applied to FIG. 1;

[0020]FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram for explaining a structure ofa restoration server applied to FIG. 1; and

[0021]FIG. 4 to FIG. 6 are flow charts for explaining an internet-basedmethod for remotely restoring damaged data and files according to anembodiment of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0022] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0023]FIG. 1 is a block diagram for conceptually explaining a structureof an internet-based service system for remotely restoring damaged dataand- files according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 1, an internet network 100 enables at least oneclient personal computer(PC) 200 to a restoration server 300.

[0025] The client PC-200 transfers log-in data to the restoration server300 through the internet network 100. The client PC 200 receives arestoration plug-in module check signal corresponding to the log-in dataalready transferred from the restoration server 300. The client PC 200transfers information on a restoration plug-in module(refer to areference numeral 202 in FIG. 2) stored therein at present in responseto the received restoration plug-in module check signal.

[0026] In response to the transferred restoration plug-in moduleinformation, the client PC 200 installs a restoration plug-inmodule(refer to a reference numeral 302 in FIG. 3) inputted from therestoration server 300 through the intemet network 100. Of course, incase that the restoration server 300 uses an more updated module thanthe restoration plug-in module stored in the client PC 200 at present,the restoration plug-in module of the client PC 200 gets updated.

[0027] The client PC 200 restores damaged data and files in a storagemedium 210 by using the installed restoration plug-in module(refer tothe reference numeral 202 in FIG. 2), and transfers a restoration resultto the restoration server 300 through the internet network 100. Further,the PC 200 outputs on a screen analysis result data transferred from therestoration server 300 through the internet 100.

[0028] The restoration server 300 is connected to respective client PCs200 through the internet network 100. The restoration server 300 judgeswhether a user is registered by using the log-in data inputted from theclient PC 200, and, in case of a registered user, transfers to theclient PC 200 through the internet network 100 the restoration plug-inmodule check signal for checking the restoration plug-in module(refer tothe reference numeral 202 in FIG. 2) stored in the client PC 200.

[0029] The restoration server 300 controls the restoration plug-inmodule(refer to the reference number 202 in FIG. 2) of te client PC 200based on the restoration plug-in module information received from theclient PC 200 through the internet network 100. The restoration server300 analyzes a restoration result transferred from the client PC 200,and transfers the analyzed result to the client PC 200.

[0030] The storage medium 210 may be hard discs, floppy discs, and soon, equipped in the client PC 200, or the other types of storage mediumin which data and files may be stored.

[0031] The client PC 200, as shown in FIG. 2, includes a communicationprogram 201, the restoration plug-in module 202, a restoration objectarea 203, and a restoration data storage area 204.

[0032] The communication program 201 performs a communication connectionto the restoration server 300. Here, the communication program 201,,maybe a web browser.

[0033] The restoration plug-in module 202, in case that the restorationplug-in module 202 is in a communication connection with the restorationserver 300 through the communication program 201, restores damaged dataand files by means of a restoration program transferred from therestoration server 300 as well as stores restored data and files in therestoration data storage area 204. The restoration plug-in module 202may be included in the communication program 201, differently from FIG.2.

[0034] Further, the restoration plug-in module 202 transfers therestoration result to the restoration server 300 through thecommunication program 201 and receives the analysis result transferredfrom the restoration server 300 according to the restoration result.

[0035] The restoration object area 203 has partly or entirely damageddata or files. The partly or entirely damaged data or files located inthe restoration object area 203 are restored by the restoration plug-inmodule 202.

[0036] The restoration data storage area 204 stores data and filesrestored by the restoration plug-in module 202.

[0037] The restoration, server 300, as shown in FIG. 3, has a web server301, a restoration plug-in module 302, and a management module 303.

[0038] The web server 301 executes a communication connection to theclient PC 200 through the internet network 100, and transfers to acommunication-connected client PC 200 the restoration program inputtedfrom the restoration plug-in module 302.

[0039] In the meantime, the web server 301 outputs a restoration resulttransferred from the client PC 200 to the management module 303, andtransfers an analysis result corresponding to the restoration result tothe client PC 200.

[0040] The restoration plug-in module 302 has a restoration programinputted by a server administrator, and transfers the restorationprogram to the web server 301 according to a transfer control of themanagement module 303.

[0041] The management module 303, in case that a communicationconnection of the client PC 200 and the web server 301 is carried out,checks whether the restoration plug-in module(refer to the referencenumeral 202 in FIG. 2) of the same version is stored in the client PC200 and, in case that it is not stored, transfers the restorationplug-in module 302 through the web server 301.

[0042] If the restoration plug-in module is stored as a result of thecheck on whether the restoration plug-in module(refer to the referencenumeral 202 in FIG. 2) is stored in the client PC 200, the managementmodule 303 compares the stored restoration plug-in module(refer to thereference numeral 202 in FIG. 2) with the restoration plug-in module 302stored in the restoration server 300 and judges if the client PC 200 hasthe same version of it.

[0043] If not the same version as a result of the judgement, themanagement module 303 controls the restoration plug-in module 302 totransfer a restoration program to the web server 301, and the web server301 transfers the restoration program to the client PC 200. Accordingly,the client PC 200 and the restoration plug-in modules 202 and 302 of therestoration-server 300 have the same version.

[0044] In the meantime, the management module 303 analyzes a restorationresult inputted from the web server 301, and transfers the analyzedresult to the web server 301 at the same time with computerizing theanalyzed result in a database by corresponding to the log-in data.

[0045] Operations of the internet-based service system for remotelyrestoring damaged data and files according to an embodiment of thepresent invention will be described in more detail as follows withreference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 6.

[0046] First of all, a user of the client PC 200 connects to therestoration server 300 through the communication program 201(S410).

[0047] As stated above, if the client PC 200 is connected to therestoration server 300, the restoration server 300 executes a userauthentication route for identifying whether the user of the client PC200 in the communication connection is a registered user(S420).

[0048] That is, the user authentication routine S420 is processed in thesequence shown in FIG. 5 attached herewith. First of all, therestoration server 300 outputs to the client PC 200 screen data forinputting the log-in data(S421).

[0049] If the user inputs the log-in data through the screen forinputting the log-in data, the client PC 200 transfers the log-in datato the restoration server 300 through the internet network 100(S422).

[0050] Accordingly, the restoration server 300 judges whether the log-indata received through the internet network 100 is a registered log-indata in a database of the management module 303(S423). As a result ofthe judgement, in case-that the log-in data inputted by the user is thelog-in data registered in the database, the restoration server 300returns to a main program and executes a routine for comparing therestoration plug-in module.

[0051] If the log-in data inputted by the user is not the registereddata, the restoration server 300 outputs a message such as □Get amembership, please□ to the client PC 200 through the internet network100(S424).

[0052] As stated above, if the process for the user authentication is-completed, the restoration server 300 executes a routine for comparingthe restoration plug-in module 202 installed in the client PC 200 andthe restoration plug-in module 302 of the restoration server 300(S430).

[0053] That is, as a result of the judgement of the step S431, in casethat the restoration plug-in module 202 is installed in the client PC200, the restoration server 300 compares the versions of the restorationplug-in module 202 of the client PC 200 and the restoration plug-inmodule 302 of the restoration server 300(S432).

[0054] If the restoration plug-in module 302 is not installed in theclient PC 200, the restoration server 300 transfers the restorationplug-in module 302 to the client PC 200 to have the restoration plug-inmodule 202 installed in the client PC 200, and returns to the mainprogram to thereby execute a data and files restoring step S440.

[0055] As a result of the comparison of the step S432, if the version ofthe restoration plug-in module 202 of the client PC 200 is lower thanthe version of the restoration plug-in module 302, the restorationserver 300 transfers the restoration plug-in module 302 to the client PC200 through the web server 301(S433), and updates information on therestoration plug-in module stored in the client PC 200.

[0056] If the versions of the restoration plug-in module 202 equipped inthe client PC 200 and the restoration plug-in module 302 equipped in therestoration server 300 are the same, the restoration server 300 returnsto the main program and executes the data and files restoring step S440.

[0057] As stated above, if the restoration plug-in module of the updatedversion is installed in the client PC 200 through the comparison routinestep S430, the restoration plug-in module 202 restores damaged data andfiles stored in the restoration object area 203, and stores the restoreddata and files and the restoration result in the result storage area204(S440).

[0058] In the meantime, the restoration plug-in module 202 stores therestoration result in the client PC 200 as stated above as the same timewith transferring the restoration result to the restoration server 300,and requests an analysis with respect to the restoration result(S450).

[0059] Next, the restoration server 300 analyzes the restoration resultof the client PC 200, transfers the analysis result to the client PC200, and registers the analysis result in the database of the managementmodule 303 by matching it with the log-in data(S460).

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0060] As described above, the internet-based service system forremotely restoring damaged data and files has an effect in restoring thedata and files damaged by computer viruses or users□s mistakes as wellas easily recovering hard discs which are not booted due to the damagesto the boot area or the FAT area.

[0061] Further, the present invention, even though separate restorationprograms are not provided all the time, has an effect in that instantrestorations are available if there is a personal computer nearby whichis accessible to the internet.

[0062] Further, since the present invention is based on remoterestoration services through the internet and enables the actualrestoration plug-in module employed for the restoration of damaged dataand files to be updated to a latest program, the present invention hasan effect in efficiently coping with the restoration of data and filesdamaged by brand-new computer viruses.

[0063] Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention hasbeen described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art thatthe present invention should not be limited to the described preferredembodiment, but various changes and modifications can be made within thespirit and scope-of the present invention as defined by the appendedclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An internet-based service system for remotelyrestoring damaged data and files, comprising: an internet network;plural client personal computers(PCs) for transferring log-in datathrough the internet network, transferring through the internet networkinformation on a restoration plug-in module stored at present inresponse to a restoration plug-in module check signal transferred incorrespondence with the log-in data, installing a restoration plug-inmodule inputted through the internet network in correspondence to therestoration plug-in module information, using the installed restorationplug-in module to restore damaged data and files in a storage medium,transferring a result of the restoration through the internet network,and outputting on screens analysis result data transferred through theinternet network; and a restoration server connected to the respectiveclient PCs through the internet network, and for judging whether a useris registered by using the log-in data inputted from the client PCs,transferring the restoration plug-in module check signal to the clientPCs through the internet network in order to check the restorationplug-in module stored in the client PCs in case that the user isregistered, controlling the restoration plug-in module of the client PCsthrough the restoration plug-in module information transferred from theclient PCs through the internet, analyzing a result of the restorationtransferred from the client PCs, and transferring the analysis result tothe client PCs.
 2. The internet-based service system as claimed in claim1, wherein each of the client PCs includes: a communication program forexecuting a communication connection to the restoration server; arestoration plug-in module included in the communication program, andfor restoring damaged data and files by a restoration programtransferred from the restoration server in case that the communicationconnection is made with the restoration server through the communicationprogram, storing restored data and files in a certain area, transferringa result of the restoration to the restoration server through thecommunication program, and receiving a result of an analysis transferredfrom the restoration server according to the restoration result; arestoration object area having the damaged data and files and restoredby means of the restoration plug-in module; and a restoration datastorage area for storing the data and files restored by means of therestoration plug-in module.
 3. The internet-based service system asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the restoration server includes: a webserver for executing the communication connection with the client PCsthrough the internet network, transferring the restorationprogram-inputted from external to the communication-connected clientPCs, outputting the restoration result transferred from the client PCsto the external, and transferring the analysis result corresponding tothe restoration result to the client PCs; a restoration plug-in modulehaving the restoration program inputted by a server administrator, andfor transferring the restoration program to the web server according toan external transfer control; and a management module, in case that theclient PCs and the web server are communication-connected, for checkingwhether the restoration plug-in module is stored in the client PCs,transferring the restoration plug-in module through the web server incase that the restoration plug-in module is not stored, comparing thestored restoration plug-in module and the restoration plug-in modulestored in the web server in case that the restoration plug-in module isstored, transferring the restoration plug-in module to the web server byjudging whether the versions of the two are the same, analyzing a resultof the restoration inputted from the web server, transferring theanalyzed result to the web server, and computerizing the analyzed resultin a database in correspondence to the log-in data.
 4. An internet-basedservice method for remotely restoring damaged data and files, comprisingsteps of: (1) connecting to a restoration server through a communicationprogram of a client personal computer(PC); (2) executing a userauthentication routine after the connection to the restoration server;(3) executing a routine for comparing a restoration plug-in module ofthe client PC with a restoration plug-in module of the restorationserver; (4) restoring damaged data and files by using the restorationplug-in module equipped in the client PC through the comparison routinestep and storing the result; (5) transferring the restoration result tothe restoration server and requesting a result analysis; and (6)transferring the analyzed result to the client PC and computerizing theresult in a database.
 5. The internet-based service method as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the step (2) for executing the user-authenticationroutine includes steps of: (2-1) outputting screen data from therestoration server for inputting log-in data to the client PC; (2-2)transferring the log-in data to the restoration server in case that auser of the client PC inputs the log-in data through the screen forinputting the log-in data; (2-3) judging by the restoration serverwhether the received log-in data is log-in data registered in amanagement module; and (2-4) executing the step(3) for executing aroutine for comparing the restoration plug-in modules in case that thelog-in data is the registered log-in data, and outputting acorresponding message in case that the log-in data is not the registeredlog-in data.
 6. The internet-based service method as claimed in claim 4.wherein the step (3) for executing the routine for comparing therestoration plug-in modules includes steps of: (3-1) judging whether therestoration plug-in module is installed in the client PC through the webserver; (3-2) comparing the versions of the restoration plug-in moduleof the client PC and the restoration plug-in module of the restorationserver in case that the restoration plug-in module is installed in theclient PC; and (3-3) transferring the restoration plug-in module fromthe restoration server to the client PC in case that the version of therestoration plug-in module of the client PC is lower than the version ofthe restoration plug-in module of the restoration server.